IA to continue fight for fibre-based NBN

Internet Australia (IA) has pledged to continue fighting for a return of a fibre-based NBN and to advocate for policies and regulations to improve the internet experience for end users.

At the industry body’s annual general meeting earlier this week, Internet Australia reaffirmed its commitment to helping convince the government to abandon the copper-based multitechnology mix rollout model in favour of returning to a fibre-based model.

A poll last week found that while 88% of Australians see the internet becoming an essential service on par with power or water, when asked if they prefer the government’s copper model or Labor’s initial fibre models, two-thirds responded that they don’t know.

“To me this says that our work in this area is not yet complete. Clearly, we need to continue to explain why an NBN using ageing copper wires and old Pay TV cables will not adequately meet our future needs,” IA CEO Laurie Patton said.

IA also committed to continue supporting the ACCC’s proposal for an internet speed and performance review, and its objection to policies including the mandatory data retention scheme and site-blocking activity as a counter to piracy.

“Our view is that the best solution to this issue is for the overseas rights holders to stop using ‘geoblocking’ to price-gouge consumers and to make their content more readily accessible,” Patton said.

IA meanwhile re-elected George Fong to the role of chair. Fong, who has been in the role since August 2014, announced that it will be his last term as chair, in line with the emerging view in the not-for-profit sector that regular board renewal is crucial to ongoing relevance.

Paul Brooks and Cheryl Langdon-Orr were meanwhile appointed vice chair and vice chair international respectively, Anne Hurley was named secretary and Craig O’Toole treasurer. Directors Anne Hurley, Narelle Clark and Chris Disspain were reappointed, while a new director, Linux Australia board member Sae Ra Germaine, has joined the board.

Image courtesy of Kenny Holston under CC